Sprinkling apparatus

ABSTRACT

A sprinkling apparatus which has a very compact shape and comprises a turbine which is alternately rotated in opposite directions by the liquid to be sprayed and is located together with a reduction gearing and a control device for the turbine within a substantially cylindrical housing the peripheral wall of which is provided with spray nozzles and which is pivoted back and forth by the turbine and the pivoting range of which is freely adjustable manually.

United States Patent Inventors Christian Stephany Erbach; Johannes Kntzer, Neu-ulm, both of Germany Appl. No. 15,638

Filed Mar. 2, 1970 Patented Dec. 28, 1971 Assignee Messrs. Kress n. Kasmer Gmbll Ulm, Germany Priority Mar. 11, 1969 Germany P 19 12 315.0

SPRINKLING APPARATUS 32 Claims, 9 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl....

Int. CL B051) 3/16 Field of Search References Cite d UNITED STATES PATENTS 9/1970 Hauser 3/1953 lnghametal 9/1960 Jepson 3/1969 Chow Primary Examiner-Lloyd L. King Attorney-l-iarness, Dickey & Pierce ABSTRACT: A sprinkling apparatus which has a very compact shape and comprises a turbine which is alternately rotated in opposite directions by the liquid to be sprayed and is located together with a reduction gearing and a control device for the turbine within a substantially cylindrical housing the peripheral wall of which is provided with spray nozzles and which is pivoted back and forth by the turbine and the pivoting range of which is freely adjustable manually.

Patented Dec. 28, 1971 v 3,630,450

5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS:

BY 17/24/77; J2 22 Patented Dec. 28, 1971 Q 3,630,450

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 2

Patented Dec. 28, 1971 3,630,450

5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS BY Vii/m6 Z4052?! Patented Dec. 28, 1971- 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Y Dec. 28, 1971 I 3,630,450

5 Sheets-Sheet 5 SPRINKLING APPARATUS The present invention relates to a sprinkling apparatus the spray nozzles of which carry out pivoting movements which are produced by a liquid-driven turbine.

The sprinkling apparatus of this type which were known prior to this invention are employed primarily as lawn sprinklers. They are also known as square sprinklers because they irrigate a substantially square area. These apparatus are driven by a turbine which is propelled by a than and always rotates in one direction. By means of a reduction gear, this turbine drives a crank or cam whereby a pipe containing the spray nozzles carries out a pivoting movement. These known sprinklers have considerable disadvantages, a principal one of which being the fact that, due to the kinetic conditions, the pivoting movements of the apparatus decrease in speed near their points of reversal so that the marginal parts of the sprinkled area are sprinkled to a greater extent than the central parts. These sprinklers therefore do not permit a uniform irrigation. Aside from this principal disadvantage of these sprinklers, they have among others the disadvantage that each of them requires numerous articulated joints which in the operation of such a sprinkler when it is constantly affected by moisture and dirt are very susceptible to trouble. In addition, these joints require a relatively large play which further increases the length oftime which the spraying nozzles require for reversing their direction of movement and renders the irrigation as produced by these sprinklers still more uneven. Last not least these sprinklers are very expensive because of the high cost of production of their mechanical crank or cam drives.

These known apparatus have the further disadvantage that it is extremely difficult and expensive to provide them with suitable adjusting means for varying the width of the area to be sprinkled. Although it is often very desirable to spray the water more toward one side than to the other or only toward one side, these apparatus pennit such adjustments only to a limited extent or not at all.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a sprinkling apparatus of the type as first mentioned above which permits a predetermined area to be sprinkled as uniformly as possible and which may be manufactured at a low cost.

According to the invention, this object is attained by providing the apparatus with a liquid-driven turbine which is rotatable in both directions and is associated with at least two separate channel means for directing currents of liquid upon this turbine so as to impinge upon it at two different points and thereby to turn it in one direction or the other. For attaining this object, the apparatus is further provided with a control device which is responsive to and acted upon by the pivoting movements of the element carrying the spray nozzles and is adapted to change the direction of flow of the current of liquid so as to flow alternately through one or the other of the channel means and then to act upon the turbine to turn it at first in one direction and then in the opposite direction.

The sprinkling apparatus according to the invention does not require any mechanical crank or cam drive. The rotary movements of the turbine are transmitted without any mechanical reversing means, preferably by means of a reduction gearing, to the pivotable element which carries the spray nozzles, and the pivoting movements of this element always occur in a certain ratio to the speed of rotation of the turbine. The reversal of the rotation from one direction to the other occurs almost abruptly, and therefore practically no stopping of the pivotable element occurs at the points of its reversal movements. Despite this extremely short stop, no hard mechanical impacts occur in the apparatus since the reversal of the movements of the turbine including its momentary stopping and new starting is effected solely by the liquid which acts as a shock absorber.

Since the known sprinkling apparatus did not consist of compact units, but their mechanical driving and spraying parts formed separate elements, their manufacture, storage, as-

sembly and installation for use were difficult and their susceptibility to breakdowns and other trouble was very high. In order to overcome these disadvantages, it is another important object of the invention to design a sprinkling apparatus which forms a compact unit which is very reliable in operation. For attaining this object, the invention provides that the spray nozzles are disposed on the peripheral wall of a pivotable housing which encloses the liquid-driven turbine and the reduction gearing between the turbine and this housing. This design permits the entire sprinkling apparatus to be made of a very small size which may be only approximately one-half of the size of a sprinkler of the conventional type with the same output. This small size and compact construction of the new apparatus is also due to the fact that its mechanical driving elements and the part carrying the spray nozzles no longer need to be separated from each other. Consequently, there are also no longer any bearing elements which are exposed to the outside and may therefore be affected by dirt and other influences which may interfere with the proper operation of the apparatus. This type of construction of a sprinkling apparatus has even considerable advantages if it is provided with mechanical reversing means.

Although the control device for reversing the movements of the turbine could generally consist of any suitable three-way valve, it preferably comprises according to a very advantageous feature of the invention a pivotable valve member which is provided with two sealing surfaces which alternately open and close two channels leading to the turbine so as to turn the same in one direction or the other. This valve member is pivotable about an axis which is located between the open ends or mouths of these channels. The control device preferably further comprises a spring element which is tightened when the housing carrying the spray nozzles moves from a central position of each pivoting movement to the end of this movement. This spring element then tends to pivot the valve member from one end position in which the turbine is driven in one direction toward the other end position in which the turbine is driven in the other direction.

According to another feature of this invention, the sealing surface of the valve member which closes the mouth of one of the channels is acted upon by the differential pressure of the water prevailing in front of and behind the turbine.

When the housing approaches the point of reversal of its movement, the valve member will be acted upon by the spring element which tends to pivot it to its other closing position in which the turbine will be rotated in the opposite direction. The spring pressure is, however, made of such a strength that the differential pressure of the water which acts upon the valve member always suffices to maintain the latter in the respective closing position to which it has been pivoted. When the housing reaches the point of reversal, the force of the spring element exceeds the force of the difierential pressure and the valve member snaps over to its other position. The water then flows through the other channel to the turbine, and the channel through which the water previously passed is then subjected to the pressure which prevails behind the turbine, whereupon a differential pressure is again built up which holds the valve member in the new sealing position.

According to another important feature of the invention it is possible to insure a very reliable valve-reversing operation by providing a pivotable control member which effects the movements of the valve member and, when the housing is pivoted from one side to the other and reaches a position near its point of reversal, the control member abuts against a stop member and then acts upon the valve member and then snaps the latter over to its other position. At the point of reversal of the housing, the control member produces a sudden increase of the force acting upon the valve member so that the particular position of the point of reversal will be more accurately defined. it is of particular advantage to provide the apparatus with the spring element as well as with the control member. In this case the reversing operation will always occur very accurately and reliably.

The control member preferably consists of a pivotable lever which comprises a control ann which is associated with the stop member and is secured to two other arms which form a rocker and each of which is adapted to act upon the valve member and is preferably designed so that in its action upon the respective part of the valve member it will not produce any frictional engagement thereon but only carry out a rolling motion.

According to another feature of the invention, the control member may be made of a very simple construction by providing it with a hemispherical part and by pivotably mounting this part in a circular sealing ring through which the control arm projects toward the outside and is sealed relative to the control chamber which is filled with the liquid to be sprayed.

Another important feature of the invention consists in the provision of very simple adjusting means for varying the locations of the reversing points of the housing carrying the noz- -zles and preferably for varying the location of each of these points independently of the location of the other reversing point. These adjusting means permit, for example, to limit the pivoting movements of the nozzle-carrying housing so that the sprinkled area will be disposed unsymmetrically to the pivot axis of the housing. If the apparatus according to the invention is employed as a lawn sprinkler, the considerable advantage may be attained, for example, that by a suitable adjustment it is possible to avoid trees or a house or the like from being sprinkled.

According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, the valve member consists of a two-armed lever the arms of which extend at an obtuse angle to each other and which is pivotable about the apex of the angle between the mouths of the two channels leading to the turbine. These two arms form the sealing surfaces which are adapted alternately to open and close the channel mouths, and the ends of these arms have extensions which are bent inwardly toward each other and form the mentioned spring elements. This simple valve construction has been found to be very reliable in operation and both the valve member as well as the associated control member are preferably made of a suitable plastic, for example, a polyacetal hemopolymeride.

According to another feature of the invention, the channels leading to the turbine and the control device are mounted in the pivotable part of the apparatus.

Another advantageous feature of the invention consists in rotatably mounting the turbine and an associated reduction gear on a nonrotatable shaft which extends through the center of the pivotable housing which encloses the turbine.

The reduction gear preferably comprises a double worm gearing and a pinion which meshes with a set of internal gear teeth on the peripheral wall of the housing. It is evident that this type of construction permits the entire apparatus to be made of a very small compact size which is also due to the fact that some of its necessary components are designed so as to accomplish several functions. This applies, for example, to the housing which also carries the set of internal teeth and the spray nozzles.

in order to insure that the water or other liquid will be sprayed from the relatively short housing for a large distance in the axial direction of the apparatus, the spray nozzles on the housing should extend at different angles to the axis of the apparatus. A uniform irrigation may be attained by designing the spray nozzles on the housing so that their axes form the radii of a sphere. According to an advantageous feature of the invention, the spray nozzles are provided in the form of bores in the wall of the housing the axes of which are not parallel to but diverge from each other at least in the longitudinal direction of the housing and the outlet ends of which form sectors of spheres and are disposed to the bores so that the axes of the latter substantially intersect the centers of these spheres. This permits the nozzle openings to be provided in a plane outer surface part of the housing. Without this feature, the outer end surfaces of the nozzle bores would extend at oblique angles to the pivot axis of the housing which would disperse the jets of water or other liquid which are sprayed from the nozzles so that the jets would no longer be properly guided and their distance of travel would be reduced. In order to eliminate this disadvantage, the carrier of the nozzles of the known sprinkling apparatus had to be provided with a suitable convexity. Usually it consisted of a bent tube into which nozzle openings were bored. It is evident that this feature of the invention participates considerably in attaining the object of producing a sprinkling apparatus of a very compact size and shape and a high practical value. The outlet openings of the nozzle bores may be provided either in the form of spherical recesses or spherical projections. The spherical projections have the additional advantage that if the wall of the housing part in which the nozzle bores are provided has a small thickness, the projections will increase the length of the bores and thus improve their guiding effect on the jets of water or other liquid to be sprayed.

The sprinkling apparatus according to the invention is preferably made of a substantially cylindrical shape. According to another very advantageous feature of the invention, the apparatus is provided on its opposite ends with fixed end sections which are connected to each other by U-shaped brackets which serve as stands for the apparatus. One of these end sections carries the connecting part through which the water or other liquid is supplied, while the other end section is provided with a bearing member which engages into an associated bearing member in the pivotable housing. These two end sections together with their connecting brackets form a very simple and effective supporting frame on which the pivotable housing with all the elements therein are firmly supported. Since the connecting brackets may be secured in a simple manner to the end sections, for example, by being plugged into the latter, this supporting frame may be easily connected to or removed from the main part of the apparatus. The connecting brackets also serve as stands for supporting the sprinkling apparatus in a fixed position and also as skids which permit the apparatus to be pulled along the ground to another area by the hose which is connected to the water inlet. It is therefore unnecessary to walk along the wet area which has been previously irrigated when the apparatus is to be moved to another position for its next sprinkling operation. Due to the particular advantageous construction of the sprinkling apparatus, the latter does not require any solid and rigid frame on which the rotatable elements are mounted. One end of the fixed central shaft carrying the turbine is for one purpose mounted in a bearing which is provided on one side of a transverse wall of the housing which closes the liquid chamber of the housing toward the outside, while the bearing for the housing near the end of the apparatus opposite to that which carries the liquid inlet has a length so as to extend to a point at the other side of the transverse wall and near the first-mentioned bearing. By providing these two bearings closely adjacent to each other but separated from each other by the transverse wall at a point which is located as near as possible to the center of the housing, the effect of bending stresses upon the housing will be substantially avoided.

The sprinkling apparatus according to the invention is preferably designed so that substantially the entire amount of liquid to be sprayed from the spray nozzles passes through the turbine. The turbine preferably comprises a wheel which is provided with radially projecting vanes and upon which liquid is passed in substantially tangential directions. By these features the advantage is attained that the apparatus will operate even if the water is supplied thereto ata very low pressure. The turbine is designed so as to cause an extremely low drop in pressure so that even at a low supply pressure, the pressure of the water in the housing in front of the nozzles will be sufficient for an effective action. This is partly due to the fact that the apparatus according to the invention requires no mechanical crank or cam drive and that the frictional resistances which were caused by these drivers in the known sprinkling apparatus are avoided. The high efficiency of the new apparatus is also partly due to the fact that all of its movable parts are disposed within the liquid to be sprayed and are therefore lubricated by the latter.

It is another very important feature of the invention that almost the entire sprinkling apparatus may be made of plastics. In one preferred embodiment of the invention merely the shafts of the reduction gear and of the turbine and the connecting brackets which also serve as skids and as stands for the apparatus are made of metal. The shafts of the reduction gear may very simply be provided in the form of tubular rivets. By making the respective elements of plastics with good selflubricating properties, a very high efficiency of the gearing as well as of the entire apparatus may be attained. The susceptibility of the apparatus to interferences due to dirt is also very low. in tests which are carried out by intentionally supplying the apparatus with dirty water it was found that as long as the dirt could pass through the spray nozzles, the apparatus did run as if it was supplied with pure water. Since the apparatus does not have an external mechanical gear elements and has a very compact size and cylindrical shape, it is also well protected from the entry of any dirt from the outside.

These and numerous other features and advantages of the present invention will become more clearly apparent from the following detailed description thereof which is to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal section of a sprinkling apparatus according to the invention, which section is taken along the line I-I of FIG. 2 and in which for illustrating the invention more clearly the part of the gearing at the right of the section line VIVI is turned about the central axis at an angle of 45 relative to the part at the left of this line;

FIG. 2 shows a top view of the sprinkling apparatus according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a cross section which is taken along the line III-III of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows a cross section which is taken along the line IVIV of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 shows a cross section which is taken along the line V-V of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 shows a cross section which is taken along the line VIVI of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 shows a cross section which is taken along the line VIIVII of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional detail view of the sprinkling outlets or nozzles of the apparatus according to FIGS. 1 to 8, while FIG. 9 shows a cross-sectional view of the sprinkling nozzles according to a modification of the invention.

As illustrated in the drawings, the sprinkling mechanism according to the invention which may be employed, for example, as a lawn sprinkler comprises two end sections 11 and 12 which form the outer ends of the substantially cylindrical housing of the apparatus and are substantially hood shaped. The end section 11 is provided with a hub 13 which has an internal screw thread 14 into which a connection piece 15 is screwed which forms the water inlet 16. On its outer end this connecting piece 15 forms a hose nipple which is adapted to be connected to a hose coupling on the end of a hose not shown, which leads to a supply of liquid under pressure, for example, water, which is to be sprayed by the apparatus. The inner end portion 17 of hub 13 has a reduced diameter into which a tubular shaft 18 is inserted which is provided with a plurality of longitudinal grooves in its outer surface, as also shown in FIG. 3. In the particular embodiment of the invention as illustrated, the tubular shaft 18 is provided with five longitudinal grooves 19, four of which are spaced at equal peripheral distances from each other, while the fifth groove is located between two of these four grooves and serves as a marking groove for preventing a wrong assembly. Shaft 18 is provided with an outer peripheral groove 20 into which a sealing ring 21, a so-called O-ring is inserted which is clamped axially between the flange which connects the reduced part 17 with the wider part of hub 13 and a countersunk washer 22 between which and the inner end of the hose nipple 15 a sieve 23 is clamped. Spring ring 21 therefore maintains the tubular shaft 18 in a fixed position in its axial direction within the end section 11. Sieve 23 serves as a filter for preventing coarse particles which might be contained in the liquid supply from entering the sprinkling apparatus.

The two end sections 11 and 12 are connected to each other by a pair of U-shaped connecting brackets 25 of metal the ends of which are plugged into bores, not shown, which are provided in these end sections. These connecting brackets 25 have three functions, namely, to serve as supports of the apparatus during its operation, as skids for sliding the apparatus from one position to another and as frame members for securing the two end sections 11 and 12 in a fixed position to each other. The end portion 12 is likewise hood shaped and has a tubular part 26 which extends into the apparatus and forms a bearing member on which a housing 27 is rotatable by means of a bushing 28 which is cast integral with the housing 27. This tubular bearing member 26 has a relatively large diameter and a considerable length in order to reduce the bearing forces acting upon this member as much as possible.

Housing 27 is of a substantially cylindrical shape and extends along the greatest part of the axial length of the apparatus. On its upper side it has a flattened part 29 in which bores 30 forming spray nozzles are provided each of which terminates at its outer end into a spherical recess 31. As indicated in FIG. 2, three longitudinal rows of five or six of these spray nozzles 31 are provided.

In order to permit a large area to be sprinkled, as seen in the axial direction of the apparatus, the nozzle bores 30 extend at different angles and their axes form radii all of which meet at one point. These bores may, however, also diverge relative to each other only in the longitudinal direction of each row so that the liquid will be sprayed from them in three rows of jets parallel to each other. According to the embodiment of the invention as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 8, each nozzle bore 30 terminates at its outer end into a spherical recess 31 and extends in such a direction to this recess that, assuming the surface of the recess to form a part of the surface of a sphere, the axis of bore 30 intersects the center of this sphere. Thus, although the axes of the bores 30 are inclined relative to the cylindrical housing, the recesses 31 forming the actual nozzles are not inclined to the housing.

The tubular shaft 18 contains a solid shaft 32 of metal one end of which is rotatably mounted in a socket bearing 33 on a partition 34 of housing 27 which defines therein a chamber 35 which is adapted to be filled with the liquid to be sprinkled and extends transversely through the entire housing 27 with the exception of an opening for a channel 36 through which the liquid is passed to the nozzle bores 30 which are located outside of the bearing parts 26 and 28.

As may be seen in FIG. 1, the bearing parts 26 and 28 and the bearing 33 for the shaft 32 are located closely adjacent to each other. Therefore, housing 27 may be rotatably mounted between the two end sections 11 and 12 without requiring a continuous shaft which would necessitate both ends of the housing to be specially sealed, and without requiring the two end sections 11 and 12 to be connected to each other by a rigid frame. It has been found to be completely adequate to connect these two end sections merely by the brackets 25 which only have to be plugged into them.

Rotatably mounted on the shaft 32 is a turbine wheel 37 which is provided with substantially radially projecting vanes 38 which extend in the axial direction and are preferably of a symmetrical shape since the turbine should be rotatable in both directions. The liquid to be sprayed is for this purpose passed alternately through two channels 43 and 44 within the channel walls 39 and 40 and from the nozzles 41 and 42 at the ends of these channels in substantially tangential directions upon the turbine wheel 37. These nozzles 41 and 42 are located relative to the vanes 38 so that the liquid passing alternately through each of them will drive the turbine wheel 37 in another direction.

The turbine wheel 37 drives a speed reduction gear 45 which comprises a worm 46 whichis integral with the wheel 37 and drives a worm wheel 47 which is freely rotatable on shaft 48. Worm wheel 47 is connected to and preferably integral with another worm 49 which meshes with a worm wheel 50 which is integral with a pinion 51 and both of which are rotatably mounted on a shaft 52. Shafts 48 and 52 preferably consist of tubular rivets which permit the respective gear members to be very easily mounted. The entire reduction gear 45 is supported on a bracket 53 which is secured to or integral with the tubular shaft 18. It has already been mentioned that for the purpose of illustrating it more clearly this reduction gear is turned in FIG. 1 about an angle of 45 about the central longitudinal axis of the apparatus relative to its actual position which may be seen, for example, in FIG. 6.

FIG. 6 illustrates that pinion 51 meshes with internal teeth 54 on an insert 55 which is inserted from the left into the housing 27, as seen in FIG. 1, and the vertical wall of which has a central bore through which the tubular shaft 18 extends. Insert 55 and shaft 18 are sealed relative to each other by an O-ring 56. The set of internal teeth 54 on the insert 55 extends substantially along one-half of a circle and the axis of symmetry of this set is peripherally offset at an angle of 45 relative to the central verticalplane of the apparatus. When the pinion 51 is located in its central position, as shown in FIG. 6, it engages with the internal teeth 54 within this axis of symmetry.

In its lower part, insert 55 has integrally thereon the channel walls 39 and 40 the extensions 57 of which at the right side of the nozzles 41 and 42, as seen in FIG. I, serve for preventing the insert from turning. For this purpose, a plug 58 is provided between the extensions 57 which by means of a sealing ring closes a drain opening 59in the housing 27 and is held therein by a bayonet lock. Plug 58 which preferably consists of plastic carries a pin 60 which, after the plug has been removed from the drain opening 59 may be employed for cleaning the nozzle bores 30.

Plug 58 therefore has three functions, namely, to serve as a removable closure of the drain opening 59 through which, for example, dirt may be removed from the apparatus which has collected therein, as a means for maintaining the insert 55 in a nonrotatable position, and as a holder for the pin 60 for cleaning the nozzle bores 30. The combination of the closure with a nozzle-cleaning pin so as to form one element also insures that, when the nozzle bores 30 are being cleaned, the soiled water or other liquid will be drained off at the time and the nozzle bores will therefore not be clogged again.

The insert 55 is pressed against a shoulder 62 in the wall of the housing 27 by a cup-shaped cover 61 which is provided with an external thread 63 which is screwed into a corresponding internal thread in the wall of the housing 27. For accurately centering the cover 61 and the insert 55 relative to each other, cover 61 has integrally thereon a pin 64 the free end of which engages into a corresponding recess in the insert 55. Cover 6] which is likewise sealed relative to the tubular shaft 18 by a sealing ring 66 is made of a shape so as to form between it and the insert 55 a control chamber 65.

The channel 67 at the inside of the tubular shaft 18 communicates through lateral apertures 68 in the wall of shaft 18 with the control chamber 65. In its lower part, this chamber 65 contains a control device 69 which, as illustrated in FIG. 5, comprises a valve member 70 consisting of a plate which is bent at a very wide V angle and has arms 71 and 72 on its outer ends which are bent inwardly toward each other. The outer sides of the two connected arms of the V-shaped plate form a pair of sealing surfaces 73 and 74 which are adapted alternately to engage with the two ends of the channels 43 and 44 so as to open or close the same. Valve member 70 is pivotable like a rocker about the apex of the V and is provided with two lateral pins 75 which engage into a pair of slots in projections 76 on the vertical wall of the insert 55 and maintain the valve member 70 freely pivotable in its proper position. Valve member 70 is therefore merely guided by the pins 75 in lateral directions, but remains freely movable in the axial direction toward the left, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 5.

Valve member 70 consists of a suitable plastic which possesses highly resilient properties and a spring characteristic which remains constant for a very great length of time and is not affected by aging. It has been found that a plastic which is made from a polyacetal homopolymeride is especially suitable for this purpose. The arms 71 and'72 on valve member 70 which, as indicated in FIG. 5, are relatively thin and may be slightly curved inwardly act as spring elements. They are operatively associated with a control member 77 which is likewise a part of the control device 69. This control member 77 is provided in the form of a rocker and has two cam surfaces 78 and 79 facing the arms 71 and 72. Centrally between these cam surfaces 78 and 79, control member 77 is provided on its side facing the cover 61 with a spherical projection 82, and integrally thereon a control pin 80 which projects vertically from the rocker.

This control pin 80 projects through a slot-shaped aperture 81 in the cover 61 to the outside, and thespherical surface 82 of the control member 77 pivotably engages into an O-ring 84 which is inserted into a recess 83 in the cover 61. The O-ring 84 and the associated spherical surface 82 therefore have two functions, namely, to form the pivot bearing of the control member 77 and also to seal the control chamber 65. It is a particular advantage of this construction that the higher the pressure of the liquid is in the control chamber 65, the more tightly it will be sealed toward the outside since the spherical surface 82 will then also be pressed with a corresponding force against the O-ring 84. Valve member 70 and control member 77 are designed so that the cam surfaces 78 and 79 of the latter will act upon the spring arms 71 and 72 of the valve member.

The control pin 80 which projects through the slot-shaped aperture 81 in the cover 61 extends further through two arcuate slots 85 and 86 which are provided in a pair of adjusting elements 87 and 88 which are of an identical shape but are disposed inversely to each other. Each of these adjusting elements 87 and 88 has a hub 89 or 90 which is rotatable on the reduced cylindrical part 17 of the hub 13 of the end section 11. The adjacent inner surfaces of hubs 89 and 90 facing the hub 13 are provided with annular recesses into which two 0- rings 91 and 92 are inserted which are tightly pressed against each other and by also pressing in radial .directions exert a brake action between the hubs 89 and 90 and the cylindrical part 17. On their outer peripheral surfaces, the adjusting elements 87 and 88 are provided with outwardly projecting handles 93 and 94 which permit the adjusting elements to be turned by hand. Adjacent to the slots 85 and 86, the adjusting elements 87 and 88 are provided with projections 98 which, as shown particularly in FIG. 3, permit each of the adjusting elements to be turned only for a limited distance relative to the other.

It should be noted that, due to its particular construction, the entire sprinkling apparatus may be make of injectionmolded parts of plastic with the exception of those few parts which are expressly mentioned as consisting of other materials. Although an apparatus of such a construction is very preferred because of its great advantages and the low cost at which it may be produced, it is obvious that the various parts may also be made of suitable materials other than plastic. By making the apparatus almost entirely of plastic, the further advantage is attained that it will be noncorrosive and not be affected by water or other liquids which are to be sprayed.

FIG. 9 illustrates a modification of the spray nozzles which in this case consist of spherical projections 31' at the outer ends of the nozzle bores 30. However, similarly as described with reference to FIG. 8, the axis of each of these bores also intersects the center of the sphere the surface of which is partly formed by the surface of one of the projections 31 The construction of the spray nozzles according to FIG. 9 has the advantage that, even though the wall portion of the housing which carries the spray nozzles might be relatively thin, the channels formed by the nozzle bores 30 including the spray nozzles 31' are relatively long so that the jets of water will be adequately guided by these channels. It has also been found that this nozzle constmction permits the water to be sprayed to very great distances and widths. These projecting nozzles 31' are to be arranged in several rows in the same manner as shown in FIG. 2 and the nozzles at both sides of the center of each row are also to be arranged relative to the respective nozzle bores in the same manner as described with reference to FIG. 2 so that the outlet points of these lateral nozzle bores are offset relative to the highest points of the projections not only in the axial direction but also in the peripheral direction.

I 7 Although a spherical shape of the nozzles as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 is the most suitable, they may also be made of any other curved shape which accomplishes the same purpose. They should, however, preferably be designed so that the outlet edges of the spray nozzles are of a circular shape. The spray nozzles according to FIG. 8 have the advantage that the housing has a more simple shape and may therefore be molded more easily and accurately and in a less expensive mold.

The mode of operation of the sprinkling apparatus as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 9 is as follows:

The apparatus is preferably placed in a central position of an area which is to be sprinkled and a hose coming from a source of liquid under pressure is then to be connected to the hose nipple by a conventional plug connection, not shown.

The liquid to be sprinkled, usually water, then flows through the bore 24 in the connecting piece 15, passes through the sieve 23 which consists of a screen of metal wire, and then flows through the channel 67 in the hollow shaft 18 and through the apertures 68 in the wall of shaft 18 into the control chamber 65. The liquid should have a pressure of approximately 0.5 kg./cm. in order to insure that the apparatus will function properlyv This pressure is considerably lower than that which is required for the proper operation of the sprinkling apparatus as previously employed. The apparatus according to the invention will therefore still operateproperly even though the pressure of the water amounts to no more than approximately one-tenth of the normal pressure of the public water supply line.

When the valve member 70 is in the position as illustrated in FIG. 5, its sealing surface 74 engages upon and closes the open end of the channel 44 which is integral with the insert 55. The liquid therefore flows from the control chamber 65 into the channel 43 and through the nozzle 41 tangentially upon the turbine blades 38. The turbine is therefore turned in the direction as indicated by the arrow 96, that is, in the clockwise direction according to FIG. 6 and in the counterclockwise direction according to FIG. 7.

The reduction gear 45 is designed so that, when the turbine wheel is thus turned, the insert 55 with its internal teeth 54 will be turned in the opposite direction, that is, in the counterclockwise direction as indicated by the arrow 97 in FIG. 6. Although the reduction gear only consists of three pairs of wheels, it permits an extremely high reduction ratio, for example, of nearly 121,500, to be attained within a very small space by mounting two worm drives in series. The low number of gear wheels which are required also has the advantage that the lost motion or play which necessarily occurs at their points of reversal is reduced to a minimum. In the apparatus according to the invention, this small play does not constitute a disadvantage, but on the contrary it is utilized since it occurs at the particular points in which the direction of the turbine is reversed. Without being required to overcome the friction in the gearing and in the bearings, the turbine may be this play at first start to move in the opposite direction. Immediately thereafter, it will then again rotate at a high speed. Consequently, the reversal of the direction of movement of the sprinkling jets occurs almost without delay.

When the housing 27 is pivoted which carries the spray nozzles 30, 31, the insert 55, the cover 61, and the control device 69 are likewise pivoted. The control device 69 therefore moves upwardly, as seen in FIG. 5, until the control pin 80 abuts against the end of the slot 86 (FIG. 3) and is then pivoted in the counterclockwise direction.

When the control device is in the position as shown in FIG. 5, valve member 70 is pressed upon the opening of channel 44 by the differential pressure which prevails between the liquid in the control chamber 65 and that in the liquid chamber 35 in the housing 27 and which is caused by the losses in pressure which, although very small, necessarily occur in the channels 43 and 44 leading to the turbine and in the turbine itself. Even though the rate of efficiency of the entire apparatus is very high and the drop in pressure occurring therein is therefore very low, it has been found that even at a low supply pressure, the mentioned differential pressure is sufficient to insure that the valve member 70 will be pressed firmly against the mouth of one or the other channel 43 or 44.

When the control pin abuts against the end of the slot 86 and control member 77 is thereby pivoted in the counterclockwise direction, as seen in FIG. 5, the control surface 78 of the control member will press against the spring cam 71 of valve member 70 and thereby pivot the latter likewise in the counterclockwise direction until its sealing surface 73 abuts against and closes the mouth of the channel 43. Valve member 70 will then again be held in this position by the differential pressure between the chambers 35 and 65. By being provided with the spring arms 71 and 72, valve member 70 has the advantage that its pivoting movements will be less abrupt so that no hard mechanical impacts will occur which might lead to damage of the control device and that, due to the resilience of these arms, the valve member 70 will be pivoted completely from one end position to the other. When thereafter the effect of the differential pressure occurs upon the control member 77, the small residual resilience of the respective spring arm 71 or 72 will not be sufficient to cause the valve member 70 from being lifted off the mouth of the respective channel 43 or 44.

The adjusting members 87 and 88 in which the slots and 86 are provided are manually adjustable independently of each other within a certain angular range which usually amounts to an angle of 45 toward each side, but any unintentional movement of these adjusting members 87 and 88 will prevented by the friction caused by the tight engagement of the sealing or O-rings 91 and 92 upon the hubs 89 and or these members and the cylindrical part 17 which serves as the shaft on which they are rotatably mounted. The position of the two adjusting members 87 and 88 relative to each other is limited by the stop projections 98. This prevents the apparatus from being adjusted to a sprinkling range in which the jets of liquid are sprayed from the nozzles at too small an angle relative to the ground or in which the pinion 51 might run beyond the ends of the set of internal teeth 54. By shifting either or both of the handles 93 and 94 relative to each other, the adjusting members 93 and 94 will be shifted accordingly which, in turn, causes the position of the two slots 85 and 86 to be varied relative to each other and relative to the control pin 80. These adjusting means also permit the sprinkling range of the apparatus to be adjusted so as to be unsymmetrical relative to the central vertical plane of the apparatus. For this purpose, both handles 93 and 94 are shifted in the respective direction so that the sprinkling range which normally amounts to 40 to 45 toward both sides may, for example, be limited to an angle of only a few degrees and may be located only at one side of the apparatus.

From the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings it will be seen that the apparatus according to the in vention has numerous advantages. Due to the fact that numerous parts of this apparatus carry out two or three different functions, the total number of parts is very small and the entire apparatus may therefore be produced at a very low cost. Thecompact cylindrical shape of the entire apparatus facilitates its manipulation, shipping and storage, and setting it up for operation. The sealing of the individual parts relative to each other or to the outside is effected by the simple insertion of sealing rings in the form of so-called O-rings of rubber or plastic, while the assembly of the entire apparatus may be effected by simply plugging its individual parts into each other and by holding them together by only two screw connections. The compact construction and shape of the apparatus also reduces considerably the danger that dirt might enter between any parts which are mechanically movable relative to each other.

In actual practice it has been found that the entire operating mechanism has an extremely high degree of efiiciency. This is largely due to the fact that all mechanically movable parts of the apparatus with the exception of the bearing members 26 and 28 which have large bearing surfaces and are therefore only subjected to low stresses are always surrounded by the flow of liquid to be sprayed. The plastics of which most parts of the apparatus are made have very good antifriction properties when wet so that the liquid to be sprayed, usually consisting of water, also serves adequately as a lubricating agent. The pressure which the liquid in the chamber 65 exerts upon the tubular shaft 18 and which would normally exert a reaction pressure upon the O-ring 66 and would therefore impede the rotary movements is overcome to the largest extent by the dynamic reaction of the liquid which occurs as the result of the change in the direction of the flow from the channel 67 into the chamber 65. The apertures 68 in the wall of the tubular shaft 18 are for this purpose designed so as to change the direction of flow of the liquid about an angle of approximately 90. A still greater relieving effect may be attained if this angle is made larger than 90. As illustrated in FIG. l,,the part of the tubular shaft 18 which is located within the control chamber 65 is made of a reduced diameter so that the effective sealing diameter of the O-ring 66 is smaller than that of the O-ring 56. Since the pressure is higher in the control chamber 65 than in the chamber 35, a thrust will be exerted on the tubular shaft 18 in the direction toward the chamber'35 which counteracts the mentioned reaction pressure. Due to the fact that in the apparatus according to the invention both compensating features are employed in a very advantageous combination, a practically complete pressure balance will be attained in this apparatus.

Since the driving means of the apparatus cause a relatively small drop in pressure, a relatively high pressure will be present in the chamber which causes the liquid which emerges directly from the chamber 35 through the spray nozzles 30 to be well directed and sprayed to a far distance.

Although my invention has been illustrated and described with reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, 1 wish to have it understood that it is in no way limited to the details of such embodiment but is capable of numerous modifications within the scope of the appended claims. Thus, for example, the reversal of the direction of rotation of the turbine and the housing 27 could also be effected by a flap valve which is not actuated by a separate control lever. However, in this case it will be difficult to seal the control chamber 65 relative to the atmospheric pressure if the sprinkling range of the apparatus should be adjustable. The resilient arms 71 and 72 of valve member 70 and the control surfaces 78 and 79 of the control member 77 may also be made of a design different from that as illustrated and described in which they are preferably designed so that when the control member 77 is pivoted, hardly any friction but only a rolling motion will occur between the friction but only a rolling motion will occur between the control surfaces 77 and 78 and the surfaces of the resilient extensions 71 and 72. The spray nozzles may also be provided in the form of separate elements, for example, of metal, which may, for example, be screwed or glued into suitable bores in the housing 27.

Having thus fully disclosed my invention, what I claim is:

l. A sprinkling apparatus comprising supply means adapted to be connected to a supply of liquid under pressure, a turbine, sprinkling means having spray nozzles and connected to said supply means and being pivotable back and forth about an axis, at least two separate channel means leading from said supply means to said turbine and adapted alternately to conduct a current of said liquid from said supply means to said turbine so as to rotate the same alternately in opposite directions, means for transmitting the movements of said turbine to said sprinkling means so as to pivot the same, the control means responsive to and actuated by the pivoting movements of said sprinkling means for alternately connecting each of said channel means to said supply means, said control means comprising a valve member pivotable about an axis to two different positions, and having two sealing surfaces adapted in each of said positions to close one of said channel means leading to said turbine while opening the other channel means, and means actuated by said sprinkling means near the end of each pivoting movement thereof for pivoting said valve member from one of said positions to the other 2. A sprinkling apparatus comprising supply means adapted to be connected to a supply of liquid under pressure, a housing having spray nozzles thereon connected to said supply means and being pivotable back and forth about an axis, said nozzles consisting of bores in the peripheral wall of said housing, said bores having axes diverging outwardly from each other at least in the longitudinal direction of said housing, the outer ends of said bores forming spray outletshaving a substantially spherical shape, each axis of said bores substantially intersecting the center of the sphere forming one of said outlets, a turbine in said housing and connected to said supply means and rotatable by a current of said liquid, and transmitting means in said housing operatively connecting said turbine to said housing so as to pivot the same about said axis.

3. A sprinkling apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which said control means further comprise at least one spring member adapted to be tightened when said sprinkling means move from a central position of each pivoting movement toward the end of said movement, said spring member thereby tending to pivot said valve member from one of said positions in which said turbine is rotated in one direction to the other position in which said turbine is rotated in the other direction.

4. A sprinkling apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which in each of said positions said sealing surface of said valve member closing one of said channel means is acted upon by the differential pressure of said liquid, in front of and behind said turbine for holding said valve member in said positions.

5. A sprinkling apparatus as defined in claim 3, in which in each of said positions said sealing surface of said valve member closing one of said channel means is acted upon by the differential pressure of said liquid prevailing in front of and behind said turbine for holding said valve member in said position, said spring member having such a strength as to overcome the force of said differential pressure acting upon said valve member when said sprinkling means reaches the end of each pivoting movement.

6. A sprinkling apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which said means which are actuated by said sprinkling means comprise a control member, a pair of stop members normally in a fixed position relative to said control member, said control member adapted to engage upon one of said stop members near the end of each pivoting movement of said sprinkling means and then to act upon the pivot said valve member when said sprinkling means reach each end of said pivoting movement.

7. A sprinkling apparatus as definedin claim 6, in which said control member forms a lever, and means for pivotably mounting said lever on said sprinkling means.

8. A sprinkling apparatus as defined in claim 6,. in which said control member comprises a control arm pivotably mounted on said sprinkling means and having one end adapted to engage upon one of said stop members, and a pair of rockerlike arms secured to the other end of said control arm and each adapted to act alternately upon said valve member.

9. A sprinkling apparatus as defined in claim 8,further comprising a control chamber having opposite walls and communicating with said supply means so as to be filled with said liquid, said chamber containing said valve member and said rockerlike arms, each of said channel means having one end extending through one of said walls and terminating into said chamber and adapted to be opened and closed by said valve member, the other wall of said chamber having an aperture, a

circular sealing ring on the side of said other wall facing said chamber and surrounding said aperture, said control arm comprising a rod having one end extending through said aperture to the outside of said chamber, and a substantially hemispherical bearing part rigidly connecting the other end of said rod to said rockerlike arms and partly engaging into said sealing ring and pivotably slidable therein and together with said sealing ring tightly closing said aperture toward the outside of said chamber.

10. A sprinkling apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising adjusting means for varying the positions of the two points of reversal of the pivoting movement of said sprinkling means. 7

11. A sprinkling apparatus as defined in claim 10, in which said adjusting means are adjustable independently of each other, so that each point of reversal may be adjusted to different positions independently of and relative to the other point of reversal.

12. A sprinkling apparatus as defined in claim 8, further comprising adjusting means for varying the positions of the two points of reversal of the pivoting movements of said sprinkling means, said adjusting means comprising two adjusting members rotatably mounted coaxially to each other and each of them carrying one of said stop members, at least one of said adjusting members having a slot through which said control arm projects. 1

13. A sprinkling apparatus as defined in claim 12, in which said two adjusting members are of a substantially identical shape but are inverted relative to each other.

14. A sprinkling apparatus as defined in claim 13, further comprising a common shaft on which said adjusting members are rotatably mounted, and circular friction rings on said shaft intermediate said adjusting members, said rings being adapted to exert a brake action upon each of said adjusting members to prevent it from turning unintentionally relative to the other adjusting member and to said shaft.

15. A sprinkling apparatus as defined in claim 3, in which said valve member forms a lever having two equal arms disposed at an obtuse angle to each other, so as to have an intermediate apex, the outer end of each of said arms having an extension thereon bent over inwardly toward the corresponding extension on the other am and each forming one of said spring members, said apex forming a bearing edge so that said valve member is pivotable about said apex.

16. A sprinkling apparatus as defined in claim 15, in which said valve member including said extensions forms an integral part of plastic.

17. A sprinkling apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which said sprinkling means comprise a housing, said channel means and said control means being disposed within said housing.

18. A sprinkling apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which said sprinkling means comprise a housing having a peripheral wall, said nozzles being disposed at least partly in said wall, said transmitting means comprising a reduction gearing connecting said turbine with said housing for pivoting the same, said apparatus further comprising a nonrotatable shaft substantially centrally within and carrying said housing and said turbine and some of the members of said gearing within said housing.

19. A sprinkling apparatus as defined in claim 18, in which the wall of said housing has a set of internal teeth, said reduction gearing comprising two interconnected worm gearings and a pinion meshing with said internal teeth.

20. A sprinkling apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which said supply means comprise a central nonrotatable shaft carrying said turbine and at least some of said transmitting means, said shaft being partly tubular and forming a channel for conducting said liquid at least two said turbine.

21. A sprinkling apparatus as defined in claim 2, in which said spray outlets form spherical projections on the outer side of the peripheral wall of said housing.

22. A sprinkling apparatus as defined in claim 2, in which said spray outlets form spherical recesses in the outer side of the peripheral wall of said housing.

23. A sprinkling apparatus as defined in claim 2, in which said housing has a substantially cylindrical shape.

24. A sprinkling apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which said sprinkling means comprise a substantially cylindrical element carrying said spray nozzles.

25. A sprinkling apparatus comprising supply means adapted to be connected to a supply of liquid under pressure, a turbine, sprinkling means having spray nozzles and connecting to said supply means and being pivotable back and forth about an axis, at least two separate channel means leading from said supply means to said turbine and adapted alternately to conduct a current of said liquid from said supply means to said turbine so as to rotate the same alternately in opposite directions, means for transmitting the movements of said turbine to said sprinkling means so as to pivot the same, and control means responsive to and actuated by the pivoting movements of said sprinkling means for alternately connecting each of said channel means to said supply means, said sprinkling means comprising a pivotable element and normally stationary end section on each end of said pivotal element and having socket holes, at least two substantially U-shaped brackets having free ends inserted into said socket holes and connecting said end sections to each other and serving as supporting stands as well as skids for said pivotable element, one of said end sections carrying said supply means, a first bearing member secured to the other end section, and a second bearing member on said pivotable element and operatively associated with said first bearing member.

26. A sprinkling apparatus comprising supply means adapted to be connected to a supply of liquid under pressure, a housing having spray nozzles thereon connected to said supply means and being pivotable back and forth about an axis, a turbine in said housing and connected to said supply means and rotatable by a current of said liquid, and transmitting means in said housing operatively connecting said turbine to said housing so as to pivot the same about said axis, said pivotable housing having a normally stationary end section on each end thereof, said end sections having socket holes, at least two substantially U-shaped brackets having free ends inserted into said socket holes and connecting said end sections to each other and serving as supporting stands as well as skids for said housing, a first of said end sections carrying said supply means, a first bearing member secured to the second end section, and a second bearing member on said housing and operatively associated with said first bearing member.

27. A sprinkling apparatus as defined in claim 26 further comprising a transverse wall in and secured to said housing, said second bearing member being rigidly secured to one side of said wall, said first bearing member being rigidly secured to said second end section and forming a normally fixed shaft for said housing and being telescopically inserted into said first bearing member, a third bearing member rigidly secured to the other side of said wall, and a second normally fixed shaft carrying said turbine and at least some of said transmitting elements and having one end rigidly connected to said first end section and another end mounted on and rotatably connected to said third bearing, so that the ends of said two shafts facing each other are located closely adjacent to each other within said housing but are separated by said transverse wall.

28. A sprinkling apparatus as defined in claim 2, in which substantially the entire quantity of said liquid ejected from said nozzles previously flows through said turbine.

29. A sprinkling apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which said turbine comprises a wheel having a plurality of vanes radially projecting therefrom and extending in the axial direction of said wheel, said channel means being disposed relative to said wheel so that said currents of liquid will impinge upon said wheel in tangential directions thereof.

30. A sprinkling apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which most of the elements of said apparatus consist of, plastic.

31. A sprinkling apparatus as defined in claim 9, in which said supply means comprise a central nonrotatable shaft carrying said turbine and at least some of said transmitting means,

ing said turbine and at least some of said transmitting means, said shaft being partly tubular and forming a channel for conducting said liquid at least to said turbine, the wall of said channel near the inner end thereof having apertures extending at an angle of at least to the axis of said shaft, as seen in the direction of flow of said liquid through said channel.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,630,450 Dated May 11, 1972 Inventor(s) Christian Stephany and Johannes Katzer It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1, line 10, after "by a", take out "than' and insert -Water current; column 4, line 73, "drivers" should be drivescolumn 7, line 46, between "the" and "time" insert -same-;

column 8, line 53, "make" should be -made--; column 9, line 63, "be" should be --by--; column 10, line 16, "cam" should be --arm-; column 10, line 37, after "will" insert -be-,' column 11, line 59, delete "between the friction but only a rolling motion will occur"; column 14,

line 8, "connecting". should be -connected;

Signed and sealed this lhth day of November 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR.

ROBERT GOTTSCHALK attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents FORM PO-IOSO (10-69 USCOMM-DC 60376-P6D 1 U.S GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. I989 ()--"!66334 

1. A sprinkling apparatus comprising supply means adapted to be connected to a supply of liquid under pressure, a turbine, sprinkling means having spray nozzles and connected to said supply means and being pivotable back and forth about an axis, at least two separate channel means leading from said supply means to said turbine and adapted alternately to conduct a current of said liquid from said supply means to said turbine so as to rotate the same alternately in opposite directions, means for transmitting the movements of said turbine to said sprinkling means so as to pivot the same, the control means responsive to and actuated by the pivoting movements of said sprinkling means for alternately connecting each of said channel means to said supply means, said control means comprising a valve member pivotable about an axis to two different positions, and having two sealing surfaces adapted in each of said positions to close one of said channel means leading to said turbine while opening the other channel means, and means actuated by said sprinkling means near the end of each pivoting movement thereof for pivoting said valve member from one of said positions to the other
 2. A sprinkling apparatus comprising supply means adapted to be connected to a supply of liquid under pressure, a housing having spray nozzles thereon connected to said supply means and being pivotable back and forth about an axis, said nozzles consisting of bores in the peripheral wall of said housing, said bores having axes diverging outwardly from each other at least in the longitudinal direction of said housing, the outer ends of said bores forming spray outlets having a substantially spherical shape, each axis of said bores substantially intersecting the center of the sphere forming one of said outlets, a turbine in said housing and connected to said supply means and rotatable by a current of said liquid, and transmitting means in said housing operatively connecting said turbine to said housing so as to pivot the same about said axis.
 3. A sprinkling apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which said control means further comprise at least one spring member adapted to be tightened when said sprinkling means move from a central position of each pivoting movement toward the end of said movement, said spring member thereby tending to pivot said valve member from one of said positions in which said turbine is rotated in one direction to the other position in which said turbine is rotated in the other direction.
 4. A sprinkling apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which in each of said positions said sealing surface of said valve member closing one of said channel means is acted upon by the differential pressure of said liquid in front of and behind said turbine for holding said valve member in said positions.
 5. A sprinkling apparatus as defined in claim 3, in which in each of said positions said sealing surface of said valve member closing one of said channel means is acted upon by the differential pressure of said liquid prevailing in front of and behind said turbine for holding said valve member in said position, said spring member having such a strength as to overcome the force of said differential pressure acting upon said valve member when said sprinkling means reaches the end of each pivoting movement.
 6. A sprinkling apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which said means which are actuated by said sprinkling means comprise a control member, a pair of stop members normally in a fixed position relative to said control member, said control member adapted to engage upon one of said stop members near the end of each pivoting movement of said sprinkling means and then to act upon the pivot said valve member when said sprinkling means reach each end of said pivoting movement.
 7. A sprinkling apparatus as defined in claim 6, in which said control member forms a lever, and means for pivotably mounting said lever on said sprinkling means.
 8. A sPrinkling apparatus as defined in claim 6, in which said control member comprises a control arm pivotably mounted on said sprinkling means and having one end adapted to engage upon one of said stop members, and a pair of rockerlike arms secured to the other end of said control arm and each adapted to act alternately upon said valve member.
 9. A sprinkling apparatus as defined in claim 8, further comprising a control chamber having opposite walls and communicating with said supply means so as to be filled with said liquid, said chamber containing said valve member and said rockerlike arms, each of said channel means having one end extending through one of said walls and terminating into said chamber and adapted to be opened and closed by said valve member, the other wall of said chamber having an aperture, a circular sealing ring on the side of said other wall facing said chamber and surrounding said aperture, said control arm comprising a rod having one end extending through said aperture to the outside of said chamber, and a substantially hemispherical bearing part rigidly connecting the other end of said rod to said rockerlike arms and partly engaging into said sealing ring and pivotably slidable therein and together with said sealing ring tightly closing said aperture toward the outside of said chamber.
 10. A sprinkling apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising adjusting means for varying the positions of the two points of reversal of the pivoting movement of said sprinkling means.
 11. A sprinkling apparatus as defined in claim 10, in which said adjusting means are adjustable independently of each other, so that each point of reversal may be adjusted to different positions independently of and relative to the other point of reversal.
 12. A sprinkling apparatus as defined in claim 8, further comprising adjusting means for varying the positions of the two points of reversal of the pivoting movements of said sprinkling means, said adjusting means comprising two adjusting members rotatably mounted coaxially to each other and each of them carrying one of said stop members, at least one of said adjusting members having a slot through which said control arm projects.
 13. A sprinkling apparatus as defined in claim 12, in which said two adjusting members are of a substantially identical shape but are inverted relative to each other.
 14. A sprinkling apparatus as defined in claim 13, further comprising a common shaft on which said adjusting members are rotatably mounted, and circular friction rings on said shaft intermediate said adjusting members, said rings being adapted to exert a brake action upon each of said adjusting members to prevent it from turning unintentionally relative to the other adjusting member and to said shaft.
 15. A sprinkling apparatus as defined in claim 3, in which said valve member forms a lever having two equal arms disposed at an obtuse angle to each other so as to have an intermediate apex, the outer end of each of said arms having an extension thereon bent over inwardly toward the corresponding extension on the other arm and each forming one of said spring members, said apex forming a bearing edge so that said valve member is pivotable about said apex.
 16. A sprinkling apparatus as defined in claim 15, in which said valve member including said extensions forms an integral part of plastic.
 17. A sprinkling apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which said sprinkling means comprise a housing, said channel means and said control means being disposed within said housing.
 18. A sprinkling apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which said sprinkling means comprise a housing having a peripheral wall, said nozzles being disposed at least partly in said wall, said transmitting means comprising a reduction gearing connecting said turbine with said housing for pivoting the same, said apparatus further comprising a nonrotatable shaft substantially centrally within and carrying said housing and said turbine and some of the members oF said gearing within said housing.
 19. A sprinkling apparatus as defined in claim 18, in which the wall of said housing has a set of internal teeth, said reduction gearing comprising two interconnected worm gearings and a pinion meshing with said internal teeth.
 20. A sprinkling apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which said supply means comprise a central nonrotatable shaft carrying said turbine and at least some of said transmitting means, said shaft being partly tubular and forming a channel for conducting said liquid at least two said turbine.
 21. A sprinkling apparatus as defined in claim 2, in which said spray outlets form spherical projections on the outer side of the peripheral wall of said housing.
 22. A sprinkling apparatus as defined in claim 2, in which said spray outlets form spherical recesses in the outer side of the peripheral wall of said housing.
 23. A sprinkling apparatus as defined in claim 2, in which said housing has a substantially cylindrical shape.
 24. A sprinkling apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which said sprinkling means comprise a substantially cylindrical element carrying said spray nozzles.
 25. A sprinkling apparatus comprising supply means adapted to be connected to a supply of liquid under pressure, a turbine, sprinkling means having spray nozzles and connecting to said supply means and being pivotable back and forth about an axis, at least two separate channel means leading from said supply means to said turbine and adapted alternately to conduct a current of said liquid from said supply means to said turbine so as to rotate the same alternately in opposite directions, means for transmitting the movements of said turbine to said sprinkling means so as to pivot the same, and control means responsive to and actuated by the pivoting movements of said sprinkling means for alternately connecting each of said channel means to said supply means, said sprinkling means comprising a pivotable element and normally stationary end section on each end of said pivotal element and having socket holes, at least two substantially U-shaped brackets having free ends inserted into said socket holes and connecting said end sections to each other and serving as supporting stands as well as skids for said pivotable element, one of said end sections carrying said supply means, a first bearing member secured to the other end section, and a second bearing member on said pivotable element and operatively associated with said first bearing member.
 26. A sprinkling apparatus comprising supply means adapted to be connected to a supply of liquid under pressure, a housing having spray nozzles thereon connected to said supply means and being pivotable back and forth about an axis, a turbine in said housing and connected to said supply means and rotatable by a current of said liquid, and transmitting means in said housing operatively connecting said turbine to said housing so as to pivot the same about said axis, said pivotable housing having a normally stationary end section on each end thereof, said end sections having socket holes, at least two substantially U-shaped brackets having free ends inserted into said socket holes and connecting said end sections to each other and serving as supporting stands as well as skids for said housing, a first of said end sections carrying said supply means, a first bearing member secured to the second end section, and a second bearing member on said housing and operatively associated with said first bearing member.
 27. A sprinkling apparatus as defined in claim 26, further comprising a transverse wall in and secured to said housing, said second bearing member being rigidly secured to one side of said wall, said first bearing member being rigidly secured to said second end section and forming a normally fixed shaft for said housing and being telescopically inserted into said first bearing member, a third bearing member rigidly secured to the other side of said wall, and a second normally fixed shaft carRying said turbine and at least some of said transmitting elements and having one end rigidly connected to said first end section and another end mounted on and rotatably connected to said third bearing, so that the ends of said two shafts facing each other are located closely adjacent to each other within said housing but are separated by said transverse wall.
 28. A sprinkling apparatus as defined in claim 2, in which substantially the entire quantity of said liquid ejected from said nozzles previously flows through said turbine.
 29. A sprinkling apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which said turbine comprises a wheel having a plurality of vanes radially projecting therefrom and extending in the axial direction of said wheel, said channel means being disposed relative to said wheel so that said currents of liquid will impinge upon said wheel in tangential directions thereof.
 30. A sprinkling apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which most of the elements of said apparatus consist of plastic.
 31. A sprinkling apparatus as defined in claim 9, in which said supply means comprise a central nonrotatable shaft carrying said turbine and at least some of said transmitting means, said shaft being partly tubular and forming a channel for conducting said liquid at least to said turbine, the part of said shaft adjacent to one side of said control chamber facing said supply means having a smaller diameter than the part of said shaft adjacent to the other side of said chamber facing said turbine.
 32. A sprinkling apparatus as defined in claim 9, in which said supply means comprise a central nonrotatable shaft carrying said turbine and at least some of said transmitting means, said shaft being partly tubular and forming a channel for conducting said liquid at least to said turbine, the wall of said channel near the inner end thereof having apertures extending at an angle of at least 90* to the axis of said shaft, as seen in the direction of flow of said liquid through said channel. 